| “ | Prepare to suffer the sting of Ghost Rider's power! Prepare to know the true meaning of hell! | „ |
| ~ Ghost Rider. |
| “ | Had no idea all those years back... when I smeared a pentagram on my chest and called forth the Devil. When I traded my soul to save the man who'd been like a father to me. When I damned myself to an eternity spent in servitude to that bastard Mephisto. Back then... I never once thought... that all this time later... I'd rise through the ranks from servant... to King of Hell. | „ |
| ~ Johnny Blaze. |
Johnathon "Johnny" Blaze, also known as Ghost Rider, is a major character and anti-hero of the Marvel Universe, speficially serving as the titular main protagonist of the Ghost Rider comics.
He was a stunt motorcyclist at the Quentin carnival who made a deal with Mephisto to save his foster foster, Crash Simpson from dying of cancer. The devil tricked Blaze, however, as Crash immediately died after making the deal. Johnny was saved by his lover Roxanne Simpson, but the fallen angel Zadkiel would have Blaze bond with Zarathos, transforming him into the Spirit of Vengeance. Since becoming the Ghost Rider, Blaze has fought against the likes of Mephisto, Lucifer, and other threats. He was also a member of the Midnight Sons, Legion of Monsters, Champions, Avengers of the Supernatural, and the Savage Avengers.
He was also the first known Ghost Rider to appear in Marvel Comics, and since his debut, has appeared in numerous other media.
He was created by Gary Friedrich, Roy Thomas and Mike Ploog, and first appeared in Marvel Spotlight #5 in August of 1972.
Overview[]
History[]
Johnny Blaze was the son of a famous motorcycle stunt performer named Barton Blaze who tragically died in an accident during one of his performances. After the death of his father he was later adopted by Crash Simpson another stunt performer and lived with him alongside Roxanne Simpson. Johnny and Roxanne who grew attached to each other during one motorcycle ride which was about to explode Mona Roxanne's mother went to check on them before being hit with an explosion. During the hospital Mona ask Johnny not to ride the mother cycle again before she died.
After which Johnny blaze never road a motorcycle show however he continued to practice and improving his skills in secret. The Crash Stunt Show continue to grow in popular but Crash was about to die of cancer desperate to save his father figure Johnny meets Mephisto and makes a deal with him by selling his soul to cure Crash's cancer in the condition to being his servant. However this proved in vain as Crash died in an accident not long after and Mephisto later fuses him with Zarathos into becoming the Ghost Rider. After this deceit he was forced to do his bidding but later rebels against him and vows to protect the innocent.
Johnny would meet his childhood friend Roxanne and eventually the two would form a relationship. Blaze would soon meet his long-lost half-brother Danny ketch who would also become a Ghost Rider himself and the two would fight villains such as Blackheart, Vengeance, and even Mephisto himself. Johnny would later marry Roxanne and had children with her until they were killed by Zadkai's forces causing him to become Ghost Rider gain. His family were reborn as demons with Roxanne becoming Black Rose and would usurp Mephisto as King of Hell at one point.
Johnny would soon meet Alexandria Jones and make her a ghost rider and then meets Robbie Reyes becoming a mentor to him. He would later give up the position as King of Hell and return into the mortal realm.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Johnathon "Johnny" Blaze was born in Waukegan, Illinois to Barton Blaze and Naomi Kale, and is the brother to Danny and Barbara Ketch. Growing up at the Quentin carnival, Johnny witnessed the death of his father during a stunt accident, and was left alone as his mother took his siblings away in fear of her family's curse. As a result of the trauma and abandonment, Johnny would repress his memories of having a younger brother and sister. After the incident, Johnny was taken in by Crash and Mona Simpson, and grew close to their daughter Roxanne.
As he grew older, Blaze became a stunt performer for the carnival, but would witness another tragedy when Mona was killed in a stunt accident. Mona asked Johnny to quit riding on her deathbed, and he promised to do so, causing his relationship with Crash to become strained. Despite his promise, Johnny would practice at night to hone in his skills, but Crash remained unaware of him doing this. Johnny also started a romantic relationship with Roxanne, but the two agreed to keep it a secret from Crash.
Becoming the Rider[]
At some point, Johnny learned that Crash had cancer and was going to die from, but his foster father wanted him to instead take over his position at the carnival. Not wanting to lose another father, he turned to the occult in an attempt to save Crash from dying, learning a spell that could summon the devil. Instead of summoning the devil himself, he summoned Mephisto, whom made a deal with the mortal to cure Crash's cancer in exchange for his service. However, Crash would die after this and be sent to Hell, leaving Johnny in mourning and accepting his fate with Mephisto.
Moments before Mephisto could take Johnny's soul, Roxxane intervened, managing to drive the demon away, but the fallen angel Zadkiel came in and placed Zarathos into Blaze. Johnny then turned into the Ghost Rider, believing that he transformed because of the evil within him, but later learned that he was bonded with an entity.
Powers and Abilities[]
Johnny Blaze is a skilled Motor Cyclist making stunts and as ghost rider has superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durabilty. He also can use magic and hellfire. He would also use Penace stare to make his target feel pain and regret.
Portrayals[]
Films[]
- In Ghost Rider and its sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, he was portrayed by Nicolas Cage, who also played Ben Gates in the National Treasure films, Balthazar Blake in The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Big Daddy in Kick-Ass, and voiced Noir Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Television[]
- In Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., he was portrayed by Tom McComas.
- In Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., he was voiced by Fred Tatasciore, who also voiced Damon Baird and Tai Kaliso in the Gears of War series, Nikolai Belinski in the Call of Duty Zombies series, Poseidon in God of War (2005) and Mario Auditore in the Assassins Creed series.
- Tatasciore also voiced the character in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order.
Video Games[]
- In Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, he was voiced by Nolan North, who also voiced Nathan Drake in the Uncharted series, Desmond Miles in the Assassin's Creed series, Edward Richtofen in Call of Duty: Nazi Zombies, and Superboy in Young Justice.
- North reprised his voice for the character in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
- In Lego Marvel Super Heroes, he was voiced by Andrew Kishino, who also voiced Saw Gerrera in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Janja in The Lion Guard.
- Kishino reprised his voice for the character in Marvel Heroes.
Quotes[]
| “ | You cannot destroy one already beyond death, villain. | „ |
| ~ Ghost Rider. |
| “ | The curse--and the power--of the Ghost Rider are mine--for keeps. I guess it all depends on what I do with it. | „ |
| ~ Ghost Rider. |
| “ | Are you suffering, Zarathos? Suffering like all the poor souls who were on the receiving end of your hellfire? It's your turn to experience some pain. | „ |
| ~ Blaze to Zarathos. |
| “ | Hope. It's the Devil's favorite poison. He dangles it in front of me... gets me to run for it... only to snatch it away at the very last moment. And I fall for it every... damn... time. | „ |
| ~ Ghost Rider on Lucifer's trickery while in Hell. |
| “ | So here I am. Back on Earth. Johnny Blaze rides again. | „ |
| ~ Johnny returns to Earth. |
| “ | When I finally escaped Hell, I brought the Devil with me. It just doesn't get any more wrong than that. | „ |
| ~ Blaze on bringing Lucifer to Earth. |
| “ | Do you hear me, Zadkiel? I'M COMING FOR YOU! | „ |
| ~ Ghost Rider to Zadkiel, after stopping Lucifer's plans. |
Gallery[]
.jpg "Ghost Rider movie image (7).jpg (116 KB)")
_002.png "Jonathan Blaze (Earth-12041) 002.png (163 KB)")
_001.png "Johnathon Blaze (Earth-12131) 001.png (6.31 MB)")
_from_Marvel_vs_Capcom_Infinite_0001.png "Johnathon Blaze (Earth-30847) from Marvel vs Capcom Infinite 0001.png (676 KB)")
Trivia[]
- Ranked 5th on a listing of Marvel's monster characters in 2015.
- He dislikes Daredevil since he believes that the title is more suitable for himself.
- He has earned nine Guinness World Records.
